Beer Drinker Appreciation Society - Closed (Page 74)

I just signed up for my first race, but it isn't a triathlon.  There was a bit of a debacle with the registration for the Chicago Marathon, so the last 15,000 entries were set up as a lottery, and my ticket was picked.  My wife and I are hoarding cash right now, with the current house-shopping situation (inspections are set for Thursday), so we're holding off on the races that are slow to fill up.

Next registration is for the Rev3 olympic in Wisconsin Dells, hopefully early next month.

agree.

expect some tweaking of the seat/pedals. I am having similar issues and will be heading back for a tune up fit.

As I have said before and learned from my dumb mistake, strength training is critical as you move up in distance/volume.

I really like p90X videos but when in s/b/r I do not usually do the entire 60+ minutes. I will generally do 30-45 minutes. I am mostly doing plyo, core, legs and back, shoulder & arms. I do the stretch for recovery (instead of yoga).

Workout this am. 2 hours on the trainer followed by 40 minutes p90x core. That is what happens when you wake up at 0300 and can't get back to sleep.

While I agree strength training is great, for us time challenged triathletes, you need to prioritize your workouts. For me, it is essential to get in my S/B/R in first. By the time I get those out of the way, I have no time/energy to take on strength training. 

That being said everyone is different. I applaud all of you who can do it!

PS: Getting up at 3am is a sign of old age...

What do you have now? I am riding a 14 yr old second(or third) hand $100 trek road bike with tri bars.

Personally, I would go with a road setup with tri bars added. More flexibility for riding and lower price point. Try LBS for second hand or craigslist. I would save a couple hundred for a bike fit if you go second hand. At the end of the day, at least for me, it is not the bike that is the problem but the engine(me). So until I win lottery or sell a well used kidney, I am stuck with the bike I have.

Start scouring the used bikes and you may just get lucky...

jlangene - 2013-03-12 12:43 PM Right now I'm riding a cheap mountain bike from Alco I agree with you that its not the bike but the engine but I would like a better bike with a few more gears. when you say get a bike fit do you mean have the shop fit the bike you purchase too to you or go to the shop and based off their fit buy a bike?

Absolutely upgrade to a road bike and you will see an improvement! 

Whatever bike you do buy, go to the shop and get it fit. You may want to hit a bike shop before hitting the used market to get a better idea of how a bike should fit though. Some LBS carry a used inventory as well.

Good luck!

Recommendations:

1.  Ignore tri-bikes, for now.  A solid drop-bar road bike will give you great bang for your buck, will leave you open to join any club rides, and will likely be more comfortable initially.

2.  Buy a new bike.  Unless you know a good deal about bikes, it is easy to get burned on a used bike, and there's a lot of garbage out there for high prices.  An entry-level road bike is probably around $600 to $1,000, and a used bike might be about 2/3 of that price; add in a $100 tuneup, and you're almost to square one, plus all the unknowns.  I bought a used bike last year, and I'm happy with it, but by the time I rebuild the wheel bearings, have the drivetrain adjusted, bought a new saddle, and the like, I'm within striking distance of a new bike with technology 4 years updated.

3.  Drivetrains don't really matter at this level, but you get what you pay for.  High level groupsets (groupset = derailleurs, shifts, brakes) have tighter tolerances, better quality, and more consistent adjustability.  For Shimano, Sora <Tiagra <105 <Ultegra <Dura-Ace.  I have a Sora groupset on mine, and its a bit clunky; in retrospect, I would have spent the few hundred dollars more for a more solid groupset.

4.  Aluminum is perfectly acceptable, and pretty much all you can afford at a low price point.  

5.  Be especially wary of older bikes.  Bike tech is almost like computers now - new stuff coming out all the time, and the old stuff getting cheaper.  A 21 speed bike (3x7) might as well be an ox-cart compared to today's 11 speed cassettes at the bleeding edge.  

Currently $750, there's a nice Fuji 1.0 at Performance.  (http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1094284_-1_400306__400306)

2x10 drivetrain, Tiagra/105 mixed groupset.  Sizes are a bit limited.  

For $700, try:  http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1117105_-1_400306__400306  2x9 drivetrain, mixed sora/tiagra group.  

At $850, you can get:  http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1120682_-1_400306__400306

Full 2x10, lots of sizes available, full tiagra groupset.

If there's one nearby, Performance Bike has some solid deals, and the sales people generally know what they are talking about.  Your Local Bike Shop is probably a good bet too, but expect to pay a little more.

Wow thanks for the detailed advice!  That is awesome, I am looking at performance bike now!  One more question, they list different sizes how do I know what size to get?  I would assume it is based off your height?  I am 5'10" Thanks again!

Charles - that was a great post.  You packed tons of useful information in there.

Here is my two cents -

1) I would agree that going with a new bike gives you the best bang for the buck.  Unless you know the seller - you are taking a chance on something that could cost you hundred to fix...

2) If you buy used - try to buy it from a high end local bike shop.  They know bikes better and it's their reputation on the line so you have a better chance of getting a good bike.

3) Agreed about the importance of a bike fit especially if you see yourself doing an Oly or a HIM.  The more you ride a bike that doesn't fit you - the greater you chance for injury.  I agree that you can fit yourself - but it take a lot of work and brain power that I don't possess.

4) Last year, I laid down $1700 on a bike and frankly it was money I didn't have.  But I did it with a purpose.  More $$$ = greater pleasure, less chance of mechanical problems.  But the real reason I did it was because I knew that if I spent the money - I couldn't quit without letting down my wife and family.  Basically I figured my health was worth it to the most important people in my life and I owed it to them to become healthy.  So after about three weeks of fretting over it - I laid down the money.  It was the third most expensive thing I have ever bought and it was worth every cent.  

Just my two cents... you gotta make the decision that works best for you and your fam.  Good luck!

Fantastic job on your 9:30 pace.  All your hard work is paying off.  Keep it up!  Enjoy your swim tomorrow.

Different bike manufactures different sizing. Go to a bike shop to get an idea of how your bike should fit. 

While you don't need a bike fitting and you can do it on your own, I think it is advantageous to get one right of the get go. Most bike shops will give you a general fitting with the purchase of a bike. I suppose I could learn it but like David, I lack the mental capacity to do so.

Bike maintenance classes are a great idea, especially free ones!

Good luck!

That is ridiculous!  On a humorous note - when I bought an apple pie for thanksgiving guess what the price was - $3.14

lp3510 - 2013-03-12 5:52 PM

Burd - 2013-03-12 5:44 PMWish I could chime in and help but I only know 1 thing so far about road bikes....day #3 in the saddle and my butt HURTS!!!  I read that I need to suck it up and get back on it and this will pass in a few short weeks....dear lord I hope they are right

Stick with it, you'll build a callus

I agree - but make sure that your bike shorts have plenty of padding.  When I first started - I bought a pair of triathlon bike shorts, which has very little padding since it's meant to be used in races.  It didn't take me long to discover the need for more cushioning.  

Really proud of you for getting out there.  You've had a rough road the last month and I'm glad to see you finally getting over the hump!

I got off to a slow start and have clocked 7/12 workouts... There is no way in He// that I am going to drink Coors light for a week.  

Tomorrow I'll do yoga and get in my first outside ride - Making up 4 workouts is totally doable - All I've got to do is channel my inner DH!

No swim this morning, got a weird feeling in my knee last night when I was playing with my niece. She likes to fly so its like doing suicides up and down the hallways, kids can be great exercise.

I did ice it last night and a bit this morning and it feels better.  If it keeps up Ill see the doc but it maybe a bit of turning 30 and being a bit overweight for so many years that is causing the prob.

Planning on the gym tonight with the wife so Im not too upset with missing the swim today. Also going to take the bike around the block this afternoon. It rained all day yesterday and washed a lot of the sand off the roads. So maybe Ill get in a mile or two. I read all the great bike suggestions and just registered for a free bike class at REI in April.

On track for the 30/31 if I count racquetball, pushups and a little yoga.

Qua17 - 2013-03-12 7:58 PM

lp3510 - 2013-03-12 5:52 PM

Burd - 2013-03-12 5:44 PMWish I could chime in and help but I only know 1 thing so far about road bikes....day #3 in the saddle and my butt HURTS!!!  I read that I need to suck it up and get back on it and this will pass in a few short weeks....dear lord I hope they are right

Stick with it, you'll build a callus

I agree - but make sure that your bike shorts have plenty of padding.  When I first started - I bought a pair of triathlon bike shorts, which has very little padding since it's meant to be used in races.  It didn't take me long to discover the need for more cushioning.  

Really proud of you for getting out there.  You've had a rough road the last month and I'm glad to see you finally getting over the hump!

I have actually stuck with my tri shorts. That is all I bike with. You will get used to it. 

Did you get your bike fitted? If not you could get it fitted or fiddle around with your seat a bit as that could be the cause. check around because fitting prices vary considerably.

Get in the pool! use a buoy for between your legs and your upper arms will be like Arnold Schwartznegger in no time!

Racquetball yes, pushups no, yoga yes.